Imagine browsing TV channels, starting your car, turning off the air conditioner: all using your mobile.
Won't it be amazing? It would be, indeed. If all this looks like a distant dream to you, we must tell you that the smartphone is on its way to become a 'Universal Remote'. In fact, the process has already started.
The smartphone has now 'gone universal'. There's more to it than just emails, presentations, browsing, and photography. The day is not far when a normal remote control will be a thing of the past. Using some smartphone apps you can control your PC, TV, AC, home theatre system, and PlayStation easily. And what's more? You can evenstart your car!
Let's check out some universal remote apps for different platforms for:
Controlling PC
There's a gamut of apps available for controlling the PC using a smartphone. Starting from the mouse pointer to the media players, presentations, camera etc., everything can be easily controlled using these apps. Normally, such apps work on the Bluetooth port or on Wi-Fi. Now if you don't have the in-built Bluetooth/Wi-Fi port(s), then you can use an external adapter for them. Let's take a look at the apps now:
For Symbian
For the Symbian 60 series, there's an amazing app called 'ControlFreak'. It can be used to access the functions of the media player and there are desktop control options as well. This is not all. Users can also prepare presentations, access images, email etc. The apps can be downloaded from the site http://mtvoid.com for free. Then there's another app called 'Remotud' which lets you access media players like Zoom Player, VLC Player, Winamp, Windows Media Player (classic version only), and Power DVD. You can get this one from remotud.sourceforge.net on your smartphone. And if you use Linux on your PC, you must try the 'anyRemote' app which is available on anyremote.source-forge.net. Other apps worth trying are 'Vectir', 'remoQte', 'CuteRemote' and all of them are available at the Nokia Ovi store.
For Android
Using the free 'Gmote' app, you can access media players on Windows, Mac and Linux PCs. It is downloadable from gmote.org. But there's also a smarter app called 'WIN-Remote'. It runs on both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Using this app, you can access media players, browsers, task manager, PowerPoint, Image Viewer on the Window PC. And this app if can be downloaded for free from the Android store.
For iPhone/iPod Touch
'Logitech Touch Mouse' app enables the user to convert the iPhone/iPod touchscreen to an input device. It then gives him full control of the mouse pointer. Another free app called 'Remote' lets you control iTunes. Apps like 'i-Click' and 'Remote X' let you access the Kyenote, Power DVD, VLC Player through your iPhone and iPod. Get all these apps from the Apple Store without paying a single penny.
For BlackBerry
Using the 'Vectir' app, BB users (via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) can access VLC Player, Windows Media Player, PowerPoint etc on their PC. The app also supports the Remote Desktop feature which allows the user to control the desktop on the PC. Get the app from vectir.com
Controlling TV
It's not just the PC, you can also control entertainment units like a television, PlayStation, DVD player, and set-top box through your smartphones. However, there's a small catch. Normally, TV and DVD remote work through infra-red which is a thing of past in mobile phones. But here's the fixer for this. If your phone doesn't have an infra-red port, then you can get an external infra-red hardware device for about Rs 300 from the market.
Now, let's see the apps:
For Symbian
Now no need to fret if you've lost your remote. In fact, you can pack it up and start using your Symbian smartphone as a remote control. 'irRemote' is an app which lets you control your TV, AC, DVD, Hi-Fi system, dish, tuner on Symbian 60 series phone. It'savailable for download on irremote.psiloc.com . There's another app which lets you perform the same fucntions. It's called 'NoviiRemote' and you can get it from novii.tv.
For Android
You'll find an array of TV remote apps for various smartphones on market.android.com. 'BD Remote', 'RedEye' and 'Remote3C' are a few good universal TV apps for Android devices. They would also work on an Android tablet. BD Remote is an amazing app which manages Blu-Ray players and PlayStation 3 apart from television.
For iPhone
Tata Sky has launched a range universal remote apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod. They can also be used to control a TV, DVD player, and set-top box. However, you will need to install infra-red hardware in your phone. Other good apps are 'Peel' and 'NewKinetix' which are available at the Apple store.
For BlackBerry
There is an amazing universal remote app for BlackBerry called AV Shadow. It can be obtained from appworld.blackberry.com. This app can control as many as 16 audio/video devices. With this app, you get an infra-red device which needs to beattached to the phone before using the app.
Start your Car using your Mobile
Now your mobile is also the key for your car. Thanks to a new cutting-edge app called Viper SmartStart, you can not only lock/unlock your car but you can also turn on the ignition. You can also find out the location of the car and get directions to reach there. For this, your car needs to be fitted with Viper Security System. This app works on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
Your Home Gadgets at your Fingertips
A company called Creston has developed 'Home Automation' remote apps for Apple and Android. Once these apps are installed, they get connected to the Creston systems and can then be used to control home gadgets like air conditioner, lights etc. Get this app from creston.com.
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